November 29, 2017 – Notice Judges and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Liquidation of Guarantee Insurance CompanyThe N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation has been informed that Guarantee Insurance Company was ordered into receivership on November 27, 2017, for purposes of liquidation by the Second Judicial Circuit Court in Leon County, Florida.The administration of all claims against this carrier will be handled by the office of the New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (NJ PLIGA) in accordance with N.J.S.A. 34:15–103 et seq. We anticipate that NJ PLIGA will appoint attorneys in all active New Jersey workers’ compensation cases within the next 3-4 cycles. Inquiries regarding this transfer should be addressed to New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association, 233 Mt. Airy Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, Telephone (908) 382-7100.

October 2, 2017 – Notice Judges, Court Staff, and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Certified Court ReportersAs per the N.J. Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Division of Workers’ Compensation shall utilize certified court reporter services set forth under the current Statewide Contract (T-2767) for Certified Court Reporters/Certified Real Time Court Reporters.In accordance with that contact and its method of operation, J.H. Buehrer & Associates, Jersey Shore Reporting, L.L.C., and William C. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., shall provide the certified court reporters for all the courts in the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation.

September 11, 2017 – Notice Judges, Court Staff, and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Certified Court Reporters – Sept. 11 through Sept. 29, 2017As per the N.J. Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Division of Workers’ Compensation shall utilize certified court reporter services set forth under the current Statewide Contract (T-2767) for Certified Court Reporters/Certified Real Time Court Reporters.In accordance with that contact and its method of operation, J.H. Buehrer & Associates, Jersey Shore Reporting, L.L.C., and William C. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., shall provide the certified court reporters for all the courts in the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation for the period of September 11, 2017 through September 29, 2017.

August 21, 2017 – Notice Judges, Court Staff, and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Certified Court Reporters – Aug. 21 through Sept. 8, 2017As per the N.J. Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Division of Workers’ Compensation shall utilize certified court reporter services set forth under the current Statewide Contract (T-2767) for Certified Court Reporters/Certified Real Time Court Reporters.In accordance with that contact and its method of operation, J.H. Buehrer & Associates, Jersey Shore Reporting, L.L.C., and William C. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., shall provide the certified court reporters for all the courts in the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation for the period of August 21, 2017 through September 8, 2017.

August 8, 2017 – Notice Judges, Court Staff, and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Certified Court ReportersIn accordance with the Order entered by the Hon. Douglas H. Hurd, P.J.C.V., on August 8, 2017, and as per the N.J. Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Division of Workers’ Compensation shall utilize certified court reporter services set forth under the current Statewide Contract (T-2767) for Certified Court Reporters/Certified Real Time Court Reporters.In accordance with that contact and its method of operation, effective August 9, 2017, J.H. Buehrer & Associates, Jersey Shore Reporting, L.L.C., and William C. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., shall provide the certified court reporters for all the courts in the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation for the period of August 9, 2017 through August 18, 2017.J.H. Buehrer & Associates shall provide certified court reporters for the Central region of the State. This consists of the workers’ compensation courts in New Brunswick, Lebanon, Freehold, Trenton and Toms River. Jersey Shore Reporting, L.L.C., shall provide certified court reporters for the workers’ compensation courts in portions of the Northern region and all of the Southern region as follows: Paterson, Hackensack, Jersey City, Plainfield, Mt. Holly, Camden, Atlantic City and Bridgeton. William C. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., shall provide certified court reporters for the courts in the remainder of the Northern region as follows: Mt. Arlington and Newark.

July 28, 2017 – Notice Judges, Court Staff, and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Certified Court Reporters TRO IIPursuant to the Order to Show Cause with Temporary Restraints, entered by the Honorable Douglas H. Hurd, P.J.C.V., on July 10, 2017, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Division of Worker’s Compensation shall utilize the certified court reporter services as set forth in Director and Chief Judge Russell Wojtenko, Jr., memorandum of November 16, 2016. Further instruction will be provided upon the expiration of the temporary restraining order.

July 10, 2017 – Notice Judges, Court Staff, and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Certified Court Reporters (TRO)Pursuant to the Order to Show Cause with Temporary Restraints, entered by the Honorable Douglas H. Hurd, P.J.C.V., on July 10, 2017 and expiring on July 28, 2017, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Division of Worker’s Compensation shall utilize the certified court reporter services as set forth in Director and Chief Judge Russell Wojtenko, Jr., memorandum of November 16, 2016.Further instruction will be provided upon the expiration of the temporary restraining order on July 28, 2017.

July 6, 2017 – Notice Judges, Court Staff, and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: Certified Court Reporters (7/10/17 through 7/28/17)As per the N.J. Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development - Division of Workers’ Compensation shall utilize the certified court reporters services set forth under the current Statewide Contract (T-2767) for Certified Court Reporters/Certified Real Time Court Reporters.In accordance with that contract and its method of operation, effective July 10, 2017, J.H. Buehrer & Associates, Jersey Shore Reporting, L.L.C., and William C. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., shall provide the certified court reporters for all the courts in the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation for the period of July 10, 2017 through July 28, 2017.

May 5, 2017 – Notice to Judges and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko Re: New Member of the Commission on Judicial PerformanceOn April 24, 2017, due to his retirement from the practice of law, Patrick Caulfield, Esq., resigned from the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation’s Commission on Judicial Performance. In accordance with N.J.A.C. 12:235-10.17, I have appointed Julius Feinson, Esq., of the Law Office of Borrus, Goldin, Foley, Vignuolo, Hyman & Stahl, P.C., to serve on the Commission for the remainder of Mr. Caulfield’s term, which expires on August 31, 2018.

April 3, 2017 – Notice to Judges and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: Liquidation of Castlepoint National Insurance CompanyThe N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation has just been informed that Castlepoint National Insurance Company is insolvent and has been placed into liquidation by the Insurance Commissioner of the State of California. The administration of all claims against this carrier will be handled the office of the New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association (NJ PLIGA) in accordance with N.J.S.A. 34:15–103 et seq.

November 16, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: Certified Court ReportersAs per the N.J. Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation shall utilize the court reporter services set forth under their new statewide contract for certified court reporters / certified real time court reporters. In accordance with that contract, effective November 21, 2016, State Shorthand Reporting Service, Inc., Guy J. Renzi & Associates, and William C. O’Brien & Associates, Inc., shall provide the certified court reporters for all the courts in the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation. State Shorthand shall provide the court reporters for our courts in Paterson, Hackensack, Jersey City, Mt. Holly, Camden, Atlantic City, and Bridgeton. Guy J. Renzi & Associates shall provide the court reporters for our courts in New Brunswick, Lebanon, Freehold, Trenton, and Toms River. William C. O’Brien shall provide the court reporters for our courts in Mt. Arlington, Newark, and Plainfield.

November 7, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: New Administrative Supervisory JudgeI am happy to announce, with the approval and consent of Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D., Acting Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, effective January 1, 2017, the Hon. Lionel Simon, III has been appointed the Administrative Supervisory Judge for the Vicinages of Freehold, Mt. Holly, and Camden.

November 7, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: New Supervising Judges – Plainfield and CamdenI am happy to announce, with the approval and consent of Aaron Fichtner, Ph.D., Acting Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, effective January 1, 2017, the Hon. Maria Del Valle-Koch will be the Supervising Judge of the Plainfield vicinage, and the Hon. George Gangloff will be the Supervising Judge of the Camden vicinage.

October 17, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: Second Injury Fund Judicial Coordinator I am happy to announce, effective immediately, Administrative Supervisory Judge Ashley Hutchinson will be the Second Injury Fund Judicial Coordinator, succeeding the Hon. Virginia Dietrich. Judge Hutchinson will be responsible for all Second Injury Fund judicial functions, including the supervision of all SIF judges.

October 7, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and Members of the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: Interrogatories in Medical Provider ClaimsNotwithstanding Former Director/Chief Judge Calderone’s Memo of November 21, 2013 (Re: Interrogatories in Medical Provider Claims) to the contrary, interrogatories in medical provider claims shall only be permitted in accordance with N.J.A.C. 12:235-3.8(g)(Interrogatories may be allowed in other cases, upon motion, for good cause shown).

August 23, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: Move of the Elizabeth Workers’ Compensation Court to Plainfield, NJ.The Elizabeth Workers’ Compensation Court will move to our new facility in Plainfield, located at 200 W. 2nd Street, Plainfield, New Jersey 07060, on Friday, September 23, 2016. In order to accomplish this move, the Elizabeth/Plainfield Vicinage will be closed to the public on Thursday, September 22nd, Friday, September 23rd, and Monday, September 26th, 2016. All lists will be cancelled on those days.

July 7, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: New Administrative Supervisory JudgeI am happy to announce, with the approval and consent of Harold Wirths, Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, effective July 9, 2016, the Hon. Ashley Hutchinson has been appointed our fifth Administrative Supervisory Judge for the N.J. Division of Workers’ Compensation. Judge Hutchinson will supervise the New Brunswick, Elizabeth and Jersey City vicinages.

February 23, 2016 - Notice to Judges and AttorneysMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: Court Closing Policy and Attorney Adjournment ProcessThe only consistent statewide cancellation of Court lists shall occur on the following days: the day of the Spring Judicial College (held on the first 3-3 Day in May), the day of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting and Convention – Workers’ Compensation Section Meeting, the day of the Fall Judicial College (held on the first 3-3 Day in October), the day after Thanksgiving, the day of the Workers’ Compensation Bench Bar Conference, and the days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

February 3, 2016 – Notice to Judges, Court Staff and the BarMemo from Director/Chief Judge Wojtenko re: Certified Court ReportersOn January 31, 2016, the contract with our court reporter services expired. As per the N.J. Department of Treasury, Division of Purchase and Property, the N.J.Division of Workers’ Compensation shall utilize the court reporter services set forth under the existing statewide contract for certified court reporters / certified real time court reporters.

As you may be aware, the New Jersey Senate confirmed eight (8) new judges of compensation during the last two weeks of the legislative session. The current case distributions, office space, support staff and geographical locations of the new judges creates serious administrative problems. Reassignments concerning current judges will be as limited as possible as we accommodate the additional Judges.... read full memo.

April 6, 2009 - NOTICE TO JUDGES AND ATTORNEYSMemo from Director/Chief Judge Calderone...re: Medicare Eligible PetitionersAs you may be aware, the Center for Medicare Services (CMS) will shortly require insurers and self insured employers to report to CMS the names of Medicare eligible individuals involved in or claiming a work injury. While it has been our policy to inquire about Medicare status at an early stage of a case, the CMS expanded reporting procedures create added impetus for all parties to be aware of a petitioner's Medicare eligibility. Such reporting will provide CMS with additional information to enforce its requirements that all CMS conditional payment and when required set-aside reviews are completed....read full memo.

December 1, 2008 - NOTICE TO JUDGES AND ATTORNEYSMemo from Director/Chief Judge Calderone...re: Counsel FeesPursuant to N.J.S.A. 34:15-64, judges of compensation have the discretion to award a reasonable counsel fee not to exceed 20% of the award entered. The judge should in all matters determine a reasonable fee based on the circumstances of the case and the value of the services performed....read full memo.

April 25, 2008 - NOTICE TO JUDGES AND THE BAROSCAR-Calcs is a PC-based software package which addresses the most common date and arithmetic functions that arise during the course of a workers’ compensation case.

Since its initial release in December, 2007, a number of comments and suggestions have been received. The latest version of OSCAR-Calcs corrects calculation problems in the partial-total disability function, adds print functions to all calculators and addresses some monetary entry problems.

April 24, 2008 - NOTICE TO JUDGES AND THE BAREarlier this month, amendments to N.J.S.A. 34:15-130 et seq. were enacted which expands workers' compensation coverage under the New Jersey Horse Racing Compensation Board Act...Read full memo.

March 4, 2008 - NOTICE TO JUDGES AND THE BARMemo from Director/Chief Judge Calderone....re: MCARE casesAttached is the most recent listing of MCARE cases. Generally, a case is marked MCARE if the case is settled but still open pending the completion of Medicare review(s). As indicated, the number of MCARE cases has been significantly reduced from the January 2007 level. The Division's website has extensive information on the process that must be completed when the petitioner is Medicare entitled......read full memo.

March 3, 2008 - NOTICE TO THE BAR

Please be advised that on March 24, 2008, the Freehold Workers’ Compensation Court will move to the following address:

2 Paragon WayFreehold, NJ 07728

The telephone number will remain the same.Our Freehold Court will be closed on Thursday March 20th through Monday March 24, 2008 to facilitate the move. Court will resume in Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at the new location.......download NOTICE TO BAR.

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